Despite rain and cold in Tuesday's forecast, revelers gathered along the parade routes as the 2014 Carnival season culminated with Zulu and Rex rolling on Mardi Gras.LIVE: Mardi Gras coverageThe Zulu parade began on schedule, led by a New Orleans police vanguard on horseback that included Mayor Mitch Landrieu.Later, the floats of the King of Carnival, Rex, and hundreds of truck trailers decorated by family and social groups wound down St. Charles Avenue.Light rain began falling in the morning, and umbrellas sprouted when heavier downpours came in. Sleet fell on the northshore and west of the city.Mardi Gras has fallen on March 4 four times. We’ve only had one dry Fat Tuesday on March 4, WDSU Exact Weather Chief Meteorologist Margaret Orr said, but the other three days only had a trace of rain.Zulu's 2014 Witch Doctor, Derek Rabb, of New Orleans, is charged with praying for the krewe's good health and good weather on Mardi Gras day. He said revelers could expect sunshine.Watch Witch Doctor forecastWhen out of costume, Rabb works at New Orleans-based Entergy Corp. He says by God's grace, there would be sun.As Zulu began rolling, a school bus carrying Martin Behrman band members was involved in a crash and several students, including one adult, were injured.Later after the lead Zulu float arrived at the end of its route, a tractor hauling float No. 8 struck a person, which may have lead to a broken leg, authorities said.Also on Mardi Gras, Loyola University suffered an act of vandalism. The L-O-Y-O letters in the front lawn that spelled out Loyola, were broken off and removed. Only L-A remained. The school said it was a "victim of Mardi Gras."However, the incidents didn't cast a gloomy cloud over the city for Mardi Gras -- that was left to Mother Nature. But parade goers didn't care.Video report: Relatively tame and safe Carnival season nears its endSoaked with or without cover or parkas, thousands lined St. Charles Avenue. Rex toasted with Mayor Mitch Landrieu and his queen at Hotel InterContinental. Truck parades followed.View images of 2014 Mardi GrasOn famed Bourbon Street, the lack of revelers was a surprise to some. However, after Rex rolled through Uptown, crowds were seen funneling through the Vieux Carré and finding their way to Bourbon Street. Many were seen taking shelter inside bars along the street to avoid getting wet.View images from Bourbon StreetIn Mississippi, weather was much of the same along the Gulf Coast.Biloxi's Gulf Coast Carnival Association parade drew thousands.The buildup to Fat Tuesday peaked Monday with parades in Stone County and in Bay St. Louis.In Wiggins, The Sun Herald reported the Stone County parade wound through the downtown streets as thousands lined up to watch. The Wiggins parade was canceled in 2013 because of rain.Also Monday night, the newly organized Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse paraded through old town Bay St. Louis. The parade takes its name from the USS Seahorse and the Battle of Bay St. Louis between the U.S. Navy and the British Royal Navy on Dec. 13, 1814.Download the WDSU Parade Tracker for iPhone and Android smartphones!Click here to download for iPhonesClick here to download for AndroidSign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news right in your inbox. Click here to sign up!

NEW ORLEANS —

Despite rain and cold in Tuesday's forecast, revelers gathered along the parade routes as the 2014 Carnival season culminated with Zulu and Rex rolling on Mardi Gras.

On famed Bourbon Street, the lack of revelers was a surprise to some. However, after Rex rolled through Uptown, crowds were seen funneling through the Vieux Carré and finding their way to Bourbon Street. Many were seen taking shelter inside bars along the street to avoid getting wet.

The buildup to Fat Tuesday peaked Monday with parades in Stone County and in Bay St. Louis.

In Wiggins, The Sun Herald reported the Stone County parade wound through the downtown streets as thousands lined up to watch. The Wiggins parade was canceled in 2013 because of rain.

Also Monday night, the newly organized Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse paraded through old town Bay St. Louis. The parade takes its name from the USS Seahorse and the Battle of Bay St. Louis between the U.S. Navy and the British Royal Navy on Dec. 13, 1814.